[OLD VERSION]The Saviors

Chapter Two: For Better Or For Worse

Athena and Clarke had been sent to long narrow room filled with a row of hospital beds and medical equipment. The guards had sat them at the end of the beds, and chained down their wrists in leather cuffs. Athena and Clarke grunted as they twisted their wrists in the restraints. The iron door swung open and they froze.

  An elderly pale man that wore a gray suit entered. A woman with dark curly hair and a crisp white doctor coat followed, along with two men that wore ear pieces and matching navy sweaters. But Athena's and Clarke's hostage also came in. She was now wearing a yellow patience's gown.

"Hello, Athena. Hello, Clarke," the woman greeted with a smile. Athena and Clarke sent her a deadly glare. The woman smirked as she stopped before Athena's bed. "Not much of talkers I see."
"A skill picked up from the savages no doubt, Dr. Tsing," the elderly man stated. "That's all right. Maya has something first to say anyway."

  Athena looked at Maya-the girl who had been her hostage. A bandage covered the thin scratch on Maya's neck Athena had caused. Maya sent Athena a scolding glare, but when Athena slightly tilted her head and narrowed her eyes, Maya's eyes became a blank stare.

"You were both next to be cleared," Maya scolded. "Another twenty minutes and-"
"Ahem," the elderly man hissed.
Maya pursed her lips. "I'm not pressing charges."
"Thank you, Maya." The elderly man smiled. "You may have your treatment now."
"This way. Bed three," Dr. Tsing said, guiding Maya to another bed.
"Restraints aren't necessary," the elderly man told the two men who had followed him into the room.
"Yes, sir," the men replied in sync as they unstrapped Athena's and Clarke's cuffs.
The elderly man smiled as he stepped in front of Athena and Clarke. "Dante Wallace."
"Clarke Griffin, but you already knew that," Clarke snarled as she rose to her feet.
"Ah. Aren't you smart? Yes, we did. We've been watching you all for some time now," Wallace answered.
"So you stalked us and kidnapped us, that's not a red flag at all," Athena sneered as she rose to her feet. "Where's my necklace?"
"Yes. Where's my watch?" Clarke asked.
"I do apologize, Athena and Clarke, but here at Mount Weather we prioritize safety over sentimentality," Wallace stated. "And we didn't kidnap you, Athena. We saved you. Forty-eight actually."
"Then you won't mind if we leave," Athena hissed.
"If there's only forty-eight of us here, then the rest of our people are still out there," Clarke added.
"Patrol brought in everyone they found," Wallace informed.
"What about the ark?" Athena questioned in a challenging tone with a tilt of her head.
"We saw it. There were multiple crash sites over a hundred square miles. If there are any survivors, we'll take them in too. You have my word," Wallace promised.
"We want to see our people," Clarke stated.
"Of course you do. I would too." Wallace waved his hand forward, and his two guards wheeled a wardrobe toward Athena and Clarke. "Change, then meet me in the hall." Wallace smiled, he turned away and left with his men.

  Athena unclipped the clasp and opened the wardrobe. Two rows were full of breathtakingly beautiful jewelry made from diamonds, crystals, gems, and pearls. Dresses, skirts, and blouses hung on a rack.

  There was a small row of heels. Athena picked up one of the black heels. She snapped off the point. Clarke picked up the other heel, and snapped off the point as well. The girls shared a look. They didn't trust Wallace. Not one bit.

  Athena had picked out a cotton sky blue sweater. She wore dark denim jeans, and white high top converse. A pale blue hair clip swept back her long wavy light brown hair. Clarke wore matching mint leggings and hoodie, and peach colored tank top. The running shoes she wore were caked in dried mud.

"Okay. Just take care of it," Wallace told one of his guards. He smiled as he turned to Athena and Clarke. "Sorry for the noise," he apologized as the three began to walk. "Hydroelectric power from Phillot Dam. Fresh water from our own underground water reservoir. Fresh food from our hydroponic farm."
"Why don't you live outside like the grounders though?" Athena asked.
"It's not survivable for us," Wallace answered.
"Well, the grounders have been surviving just fine," Athena remarked.
"Natural selection works. The grounders that couldn't survive in the radiation didn't. Those who could passed on their DNA. For better or for worse, we never went through that process here," Wallace explained.
"Neither did we," Clarke said. "We've been on the ground now for-"
"Solar radiation. There's more radiation in space than on Earth, Clarke," Athena cut in.
"Very good, Athena," Wallace spoke as if Athena were a kindergartener he was giving a gold star sticker to. "Your DNA ran the same gauntlet as the grounders. Only because radiation levels in space are even higher, your ability to metabolize that radiation makes it even stronger." Wallace smiled as he stopped in front of the elevator. "Our scientists were blown away by the efficiency of your systems. If it weren't for that, you and your friends would still be in quarantine." The doors of the elevator slid open. Dante stepped to the side and gestured to the elevator. "Please."

Athena and Clarke strode into the elevator after the two guards. Athena and Clarke shared a glimpse. Athena wrung her hands together. Both girls had hidden the broken heel in their sleeves, and no one had noticed the strange bump. The elevator doors began to close, but Wallace blocked the door. Or perhaps someone had.

"First, give me the heels," Wallace commanded in a low tone.
"I have no idea what you're talking about," Athena spoke calmly.
"Give me the heel, Athena," Wallace warned as he took a step forward.

Clarke sighed as she pulled the heel out from the sleeve of her mint green hoodie. She handed over the sharp object. Athena and Wallace glared at each other for a moment. Athena passed him the heel.

"You're not fighting for your lives anymore. You've made it. You're safe. Welcome to Mount Weather." Wallace smiled.

  The elevator doors closed, and the machinery hummed as it began to travel up. There was a small mirror above the button panel. The two guards glared at Athena and Clarke with beyond angry gazes. Athena and Clarke shared a look. If they were safe at Mount Weather. . . then how come it looked as if the guards wanted to murder them?

The elevator stopped once it arrived to level three. Clarke and Athena turned the corner to find the delinquents crowded around a woman who talked in a cheerful voice about Mount Weather.

"Athena! Clarke!" Monty exclaimed as he ran toward them.

The delinquents whirled around, and swarmed their leaders. Each of them chattered all at once. But Athena was sure whatever it was, it could wait until later. Right now, she wanted to reunite with people who were most important to her.

"Monty!" Athena smiled as she quickly hugged him.
"Hey." John half-grinned as he pulled her in for a hug.
"Hi." Athena smiled, squeezing her friend tightly.
"Athena, hey." Jasper grinned as he pulled her in for a hug.
"Where's Bellamy?" Athena asked as they separated.
Jasper and Monty exchanged a nervous look. The delinquents chatter stopped. Jasper pursed his lips as he looked back to Athena. "A, I'm sorry. He didn't make it."
"We don't know that," Athena said, her voice full of hope. "What about Raven?"
"And Finn?" Clarke asked.

Jasper and Monty looked at the floor as they shook their heads. Athena inhaled sharply. The last time she saw Bellamy, he was losing in a fight with a grounder. Clarke had dragged Athena into the ship for own safety, but Athena should've pulled away harder. She wanted to be with Bellamy, not here.

"Welcome, Athena and Clarke." The tour-guide woman smiled as she stepped toward the girls and held out two blue binders. "If you have any questions, I'm Keenan."
"Thank you." Athena smiled politely, and the woman walked away.

Athena and Clarke opened the blue binders to find a map of Mount Weather on the first page. It displayed the several levels underground and was scattered with labels. Athena's fingertip trailed throughout the map, but she se didn't find what she was looking for. She glared at Keenan, but her back was turned. There were no exits on the map.

A/N: Do you guys trust Wallace?
Creepy guards for a creepy place, ooh
Athena being dressed in normal clothes, UwU
John Mbege made it to Mount Weather
A map with no exits, what's the next move?